Safety-envelop.



men say FMQE.

ANNA G. COOKE, 0F TOLEDO, OHIO.

SAFETY-ENVELOP.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ANNA G. CooKn, a citizen of the United States, and aresident of Toledo, in the county of Lucas and State of Ohio, haveinvented a certain new and useful Locking Means for Packages; and I dohereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and eXact descriptionof the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to whichit appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon,which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to locking means for envelops or other packages;and has for its object the provision of a simple, unique and highlyefficient means of this class, which is adapted to securely lock theenvelop, pack age, carton or other article to which it may be appliedagainst accidental opening, but which is capable of being easily andquickly opened by the recipient Without destroying its effectiveness.

The operation, construction and arrangement of the parts of theinvention are fully described in the following specification, and apreferred embodiment thereof illustrated in the accompanying drawings,in which,

Figure 1. is an unfolded plan of my invention embodied in a reversibleenvelop having letter sheets attached. Fig. 2 is a rear view of the samewith the parts folded and interlocked, and Fig. 3 is aface view thereof.

Referring to the drawings, A designates the flap carrying portion of myinvention to one end or side of which, as the case may be, is attachedthe part B. \Vhile this part may be of any desired shape or size,depending upon the nature of the package or airticle which it is desiredto form, it is shown in the present instance as comprising the threepanels or portions a, Z) and c forming a letter sheet portion and areadapted to be folded upon each other and then upon the part A with thepanels Z) and c disposed be tween the parts A and a. The panel a of thepart B is provided adjacent its center with two parallel slits (Z (Zextending away from the part A and forming a strap 6. Adjacent to theouter end of such panel is rovided a short transverse slit f, whileadacent to the inner corners thereof are provided the longitudinal slitsg g as shown. At the side or end of the part A which is opposite thepanel a is a flap or wing C,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 1, 1909.

Serial No. 520,475.

which is adapted to be folded over upon the adjacent end of the panel a,when such panel is folded over the part A, and is provided with a tongueh for insertion within a registering slit f of such panel as indicatedin Fig. 2. The remaining opposite side edges of the part A have flaps orwings D project I ing therefrom for preferably the full lengths thereoffor folding over upon the respective side edges of the panel a, and eachof such flaps is provided with a small central tongue 2' and with asmaller tongue j at each side of the tongue The tongues j adjacent tothe inner end of the part A register with and are adapted to be insertedwith the slits g g of the panel a, while the other tongues j areinserted into registering slits k provided in the flap C, over the endsof which flap the flaps D fold, as shown. The large tongues 2' lap eachother over the panel a and project in opposite directions under thestrap e, provided in such panel by the slits (Z (Z, and the end of theouter tongue is turned inwardly upon itself and inserted through orhooked into a registering slit Z, in the base portion of the othertongue 2', as indicated.

It is apparent that the manner of folding the parts A and B isreversible, 2'. 6., the part B can be folded upon either side of thepart A to adapt one side thereof for the address of the consignee orprospective customer and the other side thereof for that of the originalsender where my interlocking means is used in connection with a returnenvelop. It is also apparent that my manner of inter locking the foldswith each other and with the part B of the article provide very securelocking means for the same which is at the same time capable of beingeasily and quickly opened by the receiver of the same without destroyingthe efliciency thereof.

I wish it understood that the locking means which I have described andshown is not restricted to use in connection with a reversible envelopand letter sheet but may be used in connection with any article forwhich it may be adapted or appropriate, such for instance as cartons, orother similar objects; and also that such invention is not limited toany specific form, construction or arrangement of the parts exceptinsofar as such limitations are specified in the claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is,-

1. A package having attached parts fold- Patented Aug. 2,1910.

able one over the other, one of said parts having slits therein forminga strap, and tongues attached to the other part and adapted to lap overeach other and to project in opposite directions through said slits whenthe parts are folded one over the other, one of said tongues having aslit with which the end of the other tongue interlocks.

2. A package having a plurality of parts foldable one over the other,one of said parts having slits provided therein to form a strap, andtongues attached to opposite sides of the other part and adapted to lapeach other over the slitted part when folded and to project in oppositedirections under said strap, said tongues being provided with slitsadjacent their bases to adapt the end of either tongue to be projectedthrough the slit of the other tongue, substantially as described.

3. A package having attached parts foldable one over the other, one ofwhich parts is 7 provided with a plurality of slits, a flap proj ectingfrom the other part in opposition to the slitted part and having atongue adapted to interlock with one of said slits when the parts are infolded state, and tongues projected from opposite sides of the part fromwhich the first mentioned tongue projects and adapted to lap each otherand each to project through two registering slits in the other part.

4. A package having attached parts foldable one over the other, one ofsaid parts being provided with a plurality of slits, a flap projectingfrom the other part in opposition to the slitted part and having slitstherein and also a tongue adapted to interlock with the slit in theslitted part when the parts are in folded state, and flaps projectingfrom opposite sides of the part from which the first mentioned flapprojects and each having a plurality of tongues, a por' tion of whichare adapted to interlock with slits in the slitted part, another portionto interlock with the slits in the first 1nentioned flap, and anotherportion being adapted to lap each other and toproject in oppositedirections through registering slits in the slitted part, said lappingtongues each having a slit with which the end of the other lappingtongue is adapted to interlock.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name to thisspecification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ANNA C. COOKE.

lVitnesses JOHN SOHLATTER,

C. \V. OWEN.

